Improvement in metal cans for oil



a. w. BANKER.

Metal fians for Oil, &c. v

Patented May 20,1873.

t f/ w UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIOE.

GEORGE W. BANKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN METAL CANS FOR OIL, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,986, dated May 20, 1873 application filed- February 5, 1873.

in a wooden case which entirely incloses the can, the latter being furnished with a nozzle for admitting fluid and a separate faucet for the discharge of the same, both being placed in the top of the can at opposite sides, the faucet being so constructedand arranged that when the case with its can is placed on that side nearest which is the faucet, the

entire contents on opening the faucet may be discharged downward so as to be conveniently received in another vessel, the stopper of the nozzle on the opposite side being furnished with an air-vent that may be opened and closed at pleasure to admit air into the can above the fluid while the fluid is being drawn through the faucet, and the case being cut away at the nozzle and faucet to admit of the can being filled and emptied without removing the can or taking off the cover from the case; the openings in the case being covered by movable shields, so that when the shields are shut the can, including the nozzle and faucet, is entirely inclosed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wooden case containing a can embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same cut on the the line 00 a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same cut on the line g y of Fig 1. Fig. 4 is a separate view of the nozzle and its vented stopper, showing two methods of admitting air through the stopper.

A is the wooden case, which may be made of stuff of any suitable thickness. 7 B is the can, which may be made of tin or any suitable metal. It should'fit into and fill the case laterally. At the top sufficient space must be allowed for the nozzle and faucet, so that they shall not extend beyond the top of the case. The can and case I preferably make square, as represented, that in transportation a number may be piled one upon another. In the top of the can, at one side, and preferably at or near the corner, is placed a simple common nozzle, to, ofvsuitable size to admit of the can being filled through it conveniently. At the opposite side or corner is placed a faucet, b, preferably, for compactness, constructed as represented in the drawing, consisting of a short tube soldered onto the can, partially closed at the base and top by centrally perforated diaphragms. On the interior walls of the tube is ascrew-thread. Aplunger withamale-screw thread works in the tube, having in its lower end a cork that is pressed against the lower diaphragm when screwed down, and a shoulder th.t is pressed against the upper diaphragm when the plunger is turned back. A spout or nose, 0, is inserted in the tube just above the lower diaphragm and directed outward through the opening in the case. A wire is inserted through the head of the plunger as a handle to turn it by. It is evident that when the plunger is screwed down, pressing the cork against the lower diaphragm, the faucet is closed, but when run back the way is open for the fluid to flow out, but only through the nose 0, as the shoulder on the plunger, pressed against the upper diaphragm, closes egress in that direction. 0 is the vented stopper designed to close the nozzle a. It consists of a cork covered at the top with a metal disk, and having a metal disk at the bottom, the disks being pressed firmly onto the cork and attach ed by means of a pin or tube through the center of the cork to which both are soldered. For convenience of removing the stopper a metal ring is loosely attached to the upper plate so that it may be laid down flat when not in use. For the purpose of a vent a small aperture may be made longitudinally through the cork near one side, to be closed with a suitable spile. This aperture being made through the metal plates, top and bottom, the cork will be prevented bythem from breaking out laterally or a vent may be secured by making an aperture through the wall of the nozzle near the top, and cutting a small groove on one side of the cork from the bottom upward about half or two-thirds its length, as shown in Fig. 4.

It is evident that when the stopper is inserted so that the hole in the wall of the nozzle is over the groove in the cork. air is admitted,

while in all other positions the stopper closes the nozzle air-tight. By placing this vent at the side of the nozzle nearest the side of the can, vent may be given even when the can is filled and laid on its opposite side without the escape of the fluid through the vent. It is well known to those engaged in the trade that it is customary to put up at the manufactory or by the wholesale dealer, for sale and transportation, certain kinds of fluids, such as oils, spirits, burning-fluids, varnishes, &c., in cans holding from a single quart to many gallons, and that it adds greatly to the security and convenience of transportation to have the common metal can inclosed in a wooden case. It is desirable that such cased cans should have the following qualities-viz., that while the entire can and its attachments are completely inclosed by the case, the can may be conveniently refilled without taking the can out of the case, or removing the cover from the case, that the contents may be conveniently drawn from the can at pleasure, for retail or use, without danger of spilling or sloppin g over; and with some fluids, such as varnish, that they may be drawn off and at the same time the mass in the can be kept as perfectly as possible in a state of rest, to prevent roiling or stirring up, and that to this end the can should not be moved in, or before, the act of drawing.

These qualities are all secured in my can above-described. It is filled in the ordinary way through the nozzle, the case for the purpose being set upright on the end. In the act of filling the faucet, being open, may act as a vent for the contained air. When. filled, the nozzle stoppered, and the faucet closed, the package may be laid down on its side (with the faucet downward,) resting on suitable supports so that a vessel may be held under the nose of the faucet, and the contents drawn off at pleasure, by simply opening the faucet, and the vent in the nozzle-stopper. When desired the package may be closed by shutting down the shields e and e which may even be secured by a lock on each. These shields,

made of suitable sheet-metal, are hinged on the top of the case and are made to close down over and cover the openings in the case for the nozzle and fauct, both on the top and sides, the lower end forming a hasp that fits onto a staple, as shown. a

It will be seen that there is an obvious design, and valuable purpose subserved in combining in the top of this cased can the two devices-the vented nozzle, and the faucet placed in the positions, and in the relations to each other described.

I am aware that a can inclosed in a wooden case, has been heretofore made, having a nozzle in the top and a faucet at or near the bottom, both faucet and nozzle being within the walls of the case, and the walls being cut away at the faucet, and the opening being covered by a hinged shield.

I am also aware that wooden-cased metal cans have been made, having both a nozzle and a discharge-pipe in the top of the can within, and protected by, the walls of the case, no provision, however, being made for filling or discharging the can without removing the top or cover of the case, and thus differing essentially in that respect from mine, herein described.

I do not claim broadly, either a cased can, having a faucet for the discharge of its contents, and a separate nozzle to serve for the admission of fluid, and for a vent; or a cased can having such faucet and nozzle both in the top of the can when the case is so constructed that the cover has to be removed to fill or discharge the can; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The can B having a faucet b and nozzle 01, both in the top, but on opposite sides, of the can, inclosed in the case A, the curve or top of which is permanently secured to the body of the case and not designed to be removed either in filling or discharging the can, there being openings made in the case for the nozzle and faucet, which are closed respectively by shields c and e, or their equivalent, all constructed, combined, and operating sub stantially as and for the purposes specified.

Subscribed by me this 31st day of January, 1873.

Witnesses: GEO. WV. BANKER.

A. LIVINGSTON MrLLs, A. S. Frrcn. 

